| Author |
Message |
    
Zane
| | Posted on Friday, March 08, 2013 - 02:21 am: | 
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I'll be using the straight ramp that comes on the rental trucks. I'm too frugal (make that cheap) for a tail lift truck.
It occurred to me I might ride the XT when I go to rent the truck. They might have a loading dock or be willing to help load it. That would be the best solution and worth a nice tip. |
Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Friday, March 08, 2013 - 06:45 pm: |
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I've got loading docks at two of my three abodes and usually find one within a block or two of wherever I'm going. I'll agree that the rental truck ramp is probably OK if you can get both feet down, otherwise find a loading dock if you can. |
Zane
| | Posted on Saturday, March 09, 2013 - 01:11 am: |
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The both feet issue is my real concern. With a 30 inch inseam I can't flat foot both feet. I was thinking of taking the seat off to straddle the frame. That would buy me 2-3 inches and might make the difference. I'd rather load from a dock if that becomes an option. |
Buellgrrrl
| | Posted on Saturday, March 09, 2013 - 09:11 am: |
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Loading docks are the way to go, and as a retired trucker I can almost sniff them out. For example, when I lived in a little town in western MN I found a loading dock along an old railroad grade that was being used for an alley but two blocks from my house. It varied in height too, so you could easily find a spot that matched your trailer or trucks bed height. Don't forget to restrain your ramp so it can't slide out and dump you- I have a few holes drilled in my ramps and matching holes at the back of the trailer, if that doesn't work I use a couple straps to keep the ramp from slipping out, |
Just_ziptab
| | Posted on Saturday, March 09, 2013 - 02:37 pm: |
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Bed height is everything. I can always find a slope or ditch to back into..even a street curb will make a huge difference. Course,my S-10 is pretty low compared to a full size truck or 4x4. Normally,I use a 6 foot 2x10 with a tail gate lip on it and a short hunk of chain attached to it to loop over the trailer ball to keep the ramp from spitting out if approach was too slow and in need a bit of more throttle to continue up the ramp. My other ramp is two 5 foot "T" fence posts welded together. Kinda narrow,but has never failed me,regardless that the tire rides on the edges of the "T". I faulted once,42 years ago,loading my 100 Harley Baja hill climb bike into a 53 Ford 3/4 ton farm truck. Omaha grain gate on a aluminum bushel basket. There was a 8" drop from the bed to the top of the grain gate and throttle spit out the gate....didn't drop it tho. Second attempt worked and then on to lashing it down with baling twine as I had no idea what a tie down strap was in those days....
Watch your speed with plastic bed liners..you can't stop on them. Pretty slippery! |
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